Dispensing apparatus



LE ROY A. QUAYLE 2,507,269

DISPENSING APPARATUS May 9, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l H74' l M 95mm May 9,1950 LE ROY A. QUAYLE 2,507,269

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 26, 1944 4 Sheets-'Sheet 2|||||||||||II 5 1* l-l|-|||||||||II 'lll/111145',l

im www Am@ Trae/v5 V5 May 9, 1950 Filed April 26, 1944 LE ROY A. QUAYLE2,507,269

DISPENSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENToR.

BY fiar ,4. @am/E Arras/vs Ys May 9, 1950 LE ROY A. QUAYLE 2,507,269

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 26, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /QrroeA/EYS.Patented May 9, 1950 assignerv to The-Sherwin-Williams Co., Cleveland,Ohio, a.

'ithe dispensing lof paratusswith'- which the fcha'rg'ing 'of''predeterminedwquantitiesfof fliquidlilnto containers`4can be ".fcarriedout in a rapid and satisfactory mannen-:rw u

Anothe objectofGthisfinventionfisto a novel-2 forni ofdi'spensingapparatus lfiavirlgl a' dispensing 'charriberandfonel ornioremeasuring cups: andkwhereinf- 'liquid''isf caused to flow? into thedispensing chamber for lling the measuriner cup or cups.

' Still lanothe'if object `of tlieinventionisvto 4provide.' novel.'y.dispensing -iappara'tu'sg'fdi Vchar-"- actor,invhich-=the"fdispensingfchanibe` iS-Pfconi alpressure'dillerentialtherebetvveeiiicauses liquid to `flow 1 into'ftheV chamber-inf 'excess i' of that" ire;

14 Claims. (c1. z2-#424) ed tolleans" I2 orV the or ther coating ina-Amen't illustrate' retarded; restorationofndrniali pressure controls thereturn fofth'e* excess liquid lto' the reservoir:

further fobjeet oil` thef'pijesentin ntion isi to providenoveldispensing?L apparatus the char` acter mentioned," inwhiohthe-'reservoiraridfdis A pensing IAcham-loer are lootli l closed f'to1atiiio's`phere`1'- and 'contairfan' iiiert gas'if'and'thereation ofpressure"fdilierentialy causs the =desiredff`flov of* liquid- 'into'ffthdispensingchamber for lling onezor moren'ieasurinfg oups;A if

`:v The inventare-needn fb'effufthef @brieflymarized- 'asconsisting-fineertainfnovelombinaif tions and arrangements 'ofparts'fh'erinalfter de?V scribed and particularly set out in theappended claims.' alf-1; .z A

In theacc'empanyinglfshee -FigI'l is asidee1evaton7showing one-'fornitdispensing apparatus embodying the present inventionyd- --""-`ff Fig. 2isa plan vil'ewl thereof;

vrisig. s is partial longitudinalfsenni View* taken through theapparatus on line 3 3v of Fig. 2;

5:Figa 41s v apartial'- side elevation von a somewhat largerf scale' andshowing thefxneans for 'cori-i trollingv the filling and ernptying ofthe meas-:

taken through a inodifled forni of my dispensing apparatus; 1

Figa-f sf is Y appar-nar transverse verticarsectional?view-stakenfthroughsuch lixidified apparatus as movablenlosuresfor thedelivery openings of the measuring cups;

@Pleated-fiat api ow of measuring I l and may loe held in thisvelationbya suit.-V

ab'le rack? iis" and n thevc t normal evel The' cups pre tops of thecups projecting a short distance thereabove and the main body of thecups extending in depending relation from such bottom.

The measuring cups I1 may be of any desired shape or form, and may haveany desired volume or capacity depending upon the quantity of liquid tobe charged into the containers I0. The upper ends of the cups can beextended any desired distance above the bottom 24. At their lower endsthe cups are of convergent or funnel-like shape and have deliveryopenings or nozzles for the downward discharge of the measured liquid.The lower ends of the cups are closed by means of movable closure means,preferably in the form of plugs or Stoppers 2B made of rubber or othersuitable material and carried by individual arms 21 mounted on rockableindividual actuating shafts 28.

The tank I3 is preferably constructed with double walls so as to providea space or jacket 3,0 through which a suitable heating or cooling mediumcan be circulated by means of pipes 3| and 32 for heating or cooling theliquid I5 to maintain the same at a desired temperature. As shown inFig. 3, the space or jacket also surrounds the dispensing chamber I6 andthe measuring cups I1, and preferably also extends into the partitionwall 33 located between the reservoir and dispensing chamber.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 the reservoir I4 isopen to the atmosphere but the dispensing chamber I6 is closed to theatmosphere so that by reducing the pressure in the latter chamber apressure differential can be created which will cause liquid to flow orsurge from the reservoir into the dispensing chamber. Such ow of liquidtakes place through the inlet 23 with the liquid traveling upwardlythrough the passage 23a and overflowing the bottom 24 of the dispensingchamber and the tops of the measuring cups I1 so as to run into `and llthe latter. The liquid which flows into the dispensing chamber I6 ispreferably in excess of that required to ll the cups I1 and uponrestoration of the normal pressure condition in this chamber, the excessliquid drains from the bottom 24 and returns to the reservoir I5 leavingthe measuring cups filled to their tops. As shown in the drawings, theinlet 23 provides a relatively short, direct passage connecting thedispensing chamber IS with the reservoir I5 and is elongated laterallyso as to have a lateral dimension which corresponds substantially withthe width of the dispensing chamber. By making the inlet relativelyshort and of substantially the same width as the dispensing chamber, itwill be seen that when the pressure diiferential is created between thereservoir and dispensing chamber the resulting ow of liquid takes placealmost instantaneously and occurs as a sudden large volume ilow or surgeof liquid into the dispensing chamber and across the tops of the row ofcups I1.

The pressure differential necessary to cause such a flow of liquid fromthe reservoir I5 into the dispensing chamber I6 can be obtained eitherby the use of pressure in the reservoir for forcing the liquid therefromor by creating a partial vacuum in the dispensing chamber. vacuum can becreated by any suitable means such as the educting means which isconnected with the dispensing chamber for withdrawing air therefrom. Theeducting means 35 comprises a hollow body or tting 3B which is connectedwith the dispensing chamber by a pipe 31 and has a nozzle or jet 38therein. The nozzle 38 extends transversely of the connection or openingpro- The partial Y f connected with such lever.

vided by the pipe 31 so that when compressed air or the like isdischarged through the nozzle into the exhaust pipe 39, a suction orsubatmospheric pressure will be created in the pipe 31 for withdrawingair from the chamber I6. The compressed air for the nozzle 38 may besupplied thereto by the pipe 40 which can be connected with anyavailable source. A valve 4I located in the pipe 31 controls theconnection between the educting means 35 and the dispensing chamber I6.This valve has a rotatable plug 42 therein which is adapted to beshifted to diferent positions, as will be presently explained, by meansof an actuating lever 43 and an extension rod 44 A screw plug 45 mountedin an opening of the body of the valve 4I has a passage therein formingan atmosphere connection 46.

When the measuring cups I1 are to be iilled, the operator grasps thehandle or knob 41 of the extension rod 44 and pushes the same to swingthe lever 43, thereby shifting the valve plug 42 so as to bring theports of the plug in line with the passage of the pipe 31 and thusconnect the educting means 35 with the dispensing chamber IE. This samemovement of the plug 42 causes the atmosphere connection 46 to be closedand this connection remains closed while the dispensing chamber IG isbeing subjected to suction. The reduced pressure condition or partialvacuum thus created in the dispensing chamber causes -the measuring cupsI1 have been lled with liquid and the excess liquid has been returned tothe reservoir. One form of indicating means which is suitable for thispurpose comprises transparent wall sections or windows 48 located inthat portion of the tank which contains the dispensing chamber I6 andthrough which the measuring cups I1 can be observed from a point outsidethis chamber. In this instance, two such windows are shown in the topwall of the dispensing chamber I6 and located to overlie the row ofmeasuring cups so that an operator standing adjacent the apparatus canlook down into the dispensing chamber through these windows and canobserve the lling and emptying of the cups I1. When the operatorobserves that the cups I1 have been lled as the result of the abovedescribed actuation of the plug 42 of the valve 4 I, the valve isshifted back to the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby disconnecting theeductingr means from the dispensing chamber and at the same timeconnecting this chamber with the atmosphere through the passage 46. Thispermits the restoration of atmospheric pressure in the chamber I6whereupon the excess liquid drains from the bottom 24 of the dispensingchamber and ows back into the reservoir I5 through the inlet 23.

To prevent this return flow from taking place too rapidly, which mightresult in liquid being splashed or thrown about in the dispensingchamber, the atmosphere connection 46 is made of relatively restrict-edarea, so that the restoration of pressure in the chamber I6 will besomewhat retarded. The size of the passage 46 will depend upon thecharacter of the liquid being dispensed, the volume of the dispensingchamber and possibly other features of the apparatus. This passage ispreferably formed in a screw plug 45, as mentioned above, so that thearea of the passage can Whenthe operatorobseriv s that the me uringcupsn l? haveV been lled'as above descrred and has permitted the excessrliquid to, iiovv back into the reservoir l5, the cupsarepemptied byperinitting the measured liquidtherein ,to now out through the bottomopenings 25.thereof, The discharge of liquid fronrthe cupsfthroligh th@openingsk 25 is accomplished by actuatingwth'e shaiit'st substantiallysirriultaneously toV Swine the arms 21, andthe A Stoppers 2,6[c`arriedtherebyt 'the open position. Fig. l shovvs one suitA` able form ofmechanism for actuatingA the stoppers 26 to open and clo's'e thedischarge openings 25 of the measuring cups. Thi's 'melianisin v"des"actuating armv 5 I molinted'nthe icu 52: tensioh sprlng'SS having oneend anchored o'ii pin '5d and its other 'end connected with the bar 52;vconstantly urges the'latter toward the left as in Fig:4 for sivingingthe Stoppers to their open position. Such rriovern'entof the bar 52 isprevented by a latch vivliiiclris formed/by a lug or extension 5501itheclosure yactuating arm 5m and einen member or stopte adapted to be engaged bysucholug; The latch member' 56 is car'- ried 'by an actuatinglever 51 Whichis normally held against a' stop` 'fbya :tension spring'55?. The'le'ver 5l hasan extensionportion providing a handle 'd whichcan bef swung inacounter clockwise 'direction as seen in Eig.' 49 rfordisengagirigthe latchniembe'r'56`frorn the lugf55 to permitl a quick'opening of 'the` Stoppers byjthe" :fr

action. of the spring 5 3 in shifting the bar 52. The lug 55 has arounded o rbeveled portion Si ehablingthe'saine' to be; readily movedpast the latch member vvhen thejbar52 is shifted back to the full-lineposition shown in Fig; 4 which corresponds with the closed condition ofthe Stoppers 26'-,

To prevent the'bar`52 from being actuated with' a slamming 'or'jarr'irigaction bythe spring 531y a suitable 'check device 53 ispreferablycor`i4- nected vvith one end of this bar.' This check devicemay be oiv the type comprising a cylinder 64 pivoted at Elia' and havinga plunger 65 therein. Aplunger rod 65 `hasits outer en'd connected withthe bar 52 by'meanslof a clip or lug 67 mounted on the latter. Thecheck' device 63 permits relatively free movements of the bar 52 towardthe left as seen'in" Fig.' 4' until thev plunger 65 ap-Y proaches theend of the cylinderV from which the rod 65 extends', whereupon achecking or snubbing ctionJ is produced for slowing the rate of move#mentor the bar. v l

When the operator by looking through the windows d8: observes that themeasuring cups I1 have been emptied, the Stoppers 25 are shiftedto'their closedl position to vpermit refilling of the oups. For movingthe stoppers 25 to the closed positionV and `Aat the saine timeresettingthe actuating' bar 52, 1 provide a lever 68 which is pivotally mountedso that byswinging the saine .inl a c locliigfise' direction as seenin'Fig'. 4, a pin 68u on such leverA canbe brought into engagement withthe'c'l'osu1fe-'actuatingarm' Sib to thereby re-` turn" the" bar tothefull' line position shovvn in Fig'je". This return movement of the bar'52 caiises'thelug: #5 5to move or Wipe past the latch member 56,thereby'resettingtheY latch Inecha-V nism, vso as to' 'r etain thefbar52' in 'the positionl Corresponding with the ciosedfondiuoh of thedualxr'gcifshaffs ifif'rid. connected with a laterally movable actuatingbar lever `fiak normnlyjhjoids trie 'latte i an, out-.off Way'op'ostiolLS fSlWri'LFg. ,4L Aplll'ectligpi 'Hl Af ornfl's a stop., vfl 1ichisflo'catedto be engaged by ,one ofthe a'rr'rfisQS'l. Y for limiting theopening movementloithe.actuating hertz,v ,Y

The liquid whichis discharged from the meas uringrcupsljflovvsxtherefromfin streams which Will enter the .containers viiiwhich have Ybeen previously located beneath., the, dipetliflg .chamberi6'. i funn'alglZ crime like can ,be placed, in the tjop` ofBachpontainer if desired to facilitate iii ,lleva or .theiliciiidtien-HMO.` A drppan 1 3 issuspci Vdbervleath the dispensing chamber I iand serves .to catch, liquid. Whih drips. from the clsiir'eplue' S0 a-Siprevent. .$11.011 liquid from dropping ontoothesides of thecontainersoronto the iioor.. The rdrip 'pan 13 is provided with open: ings 'Iii ofsuitable size and location and through which the streams of liquid passduring the emptringof the cups 1.1.-,V T9 facilitate-th Vproper po.-7sitioning of thewheeled truck 42t berieaththe dirs; pensing chamber l5,one or more pairs of guide roilers imay be pravided Qnthgframe I9 forguiding cooperation with the longitudinal side .il edgescf the platform211g of thetruck'.

The liquid nhersservoir .lianlb maintained at a desired level therein bydelivering additionalliquid into ,thereservoir either by means @bucketsor the like, Orihieugh la supply pipe i6.

I When the liquid being dispensed is .of a character such as to havelumpsgclotspr `foreignbodies' therein, it is desirable top'rovidea'suitable screen 'il at the bcttomof the reservoir so as to always besubmerged in theli'quid andvsuchthat the liquid flowing into the`dispensing chamber I6 through the inlet 23 must pass through suchscreen. With the screen in this location. it will be seen also that thereturn flow of excess liquid' back into the Areservoiras abovedescribed,l causes self-cleaning ofthe screen.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I shovv a modiediorm of my dispensing apparatus' andwhich, as mentioned above, can be used for nlii'ng I'cans I2 or the likewith paint, lacquer or other coating material. This modified form ofapparatus comprises `a tank or housing '.86/ having therein a reservoir8i and a dispensing chamber 8 2. vA row or group of measuring cupsr 83'extends longitudinally of the dispensingl chamber and which cups havetheir upper ends in open communication with this chamber by extendingthrough the bottom 84 thereof. v

lTo expedite the lling'of theA cups 83, the inlet 85 of the dispensingchamber 82 is located so vthat it is substantiallycoextens-ive with therow of cups. vIt Will be seen also from the drawings. that the reservoir8l andthe dispensing chamber ber need travel only a' short distanceandwill ll i all of the cups substantially,simultaneously.

moderate' pressure. rhe'iiquid in the reservoir y v tgasfsueh'asnitrogen is confined in the reservoir of ,the ,dispensingphambeli undera, 75"

8| is made to flow into the dispensing chamber 82 intermittently forfilling the measuring cups 83. This is accomplished by reducing thepressure of the gas in the dispensing chamber 82 relative to thepressure existing in the reservoir 8| so that the gas pressure in thereservoir will force the liquid up into the dispensing chamber. Thereduced pressure condition in the dis-pensing chamber can be obtained bywithdrawing the inert gas, or a substantial portion thereof, from thedispensing chamber 82 by any suitable means such as an educting deviceor bellows 81 which is connected with the dispensing chamber by a pipe88. The bellows 81 is of a suitable capacity to reduce the pressure inthe dispensing chamber the necessary amount and may be provided with ahandle 89 by which it can be manually expanded for withdrawing such gasfrom the dispensing chamber.

The pressure of the inert gas in the reservoir 8| can be maintained orsubstantially maintained during the dispensing operation by means of anexpansible chamber device such as an elastic container or balloon 90whichI is connected with the reservoir by means of a pipe 9|. As thelevel of the liquid in the reservoir falls, additional gas will besupplied to the reservoir under moderate pressure by the balloon 90 andas the liquid level rises in the reservoir, some of the inert gas willbe forced back into the balloon. The inert gas which is withdrawn fromthe dispensing chamber 82 by the bellows 81 is forced back into thedispensing chamber by collapsing the bellows as the operator, who isobserving the measuring cups through the windows 93, sees that the cupshave been filled. The restoration of the pressure condition in thedispensing chamber 82 allows the excess liquid to flow therefrom backinto the reservoir.

As soon as the measuring cups 83 have been filled as above described andthe excess liquid has been permitted to ow back into the reservoir 8|,the measured liquid is discharged from the cups into the containers orcans l2 by swinging the Stoppers 94 to their open position. Theactuating means for these Stoppers may comprise individual arms 95 uponwhich the Stoppers are mounted and which are connected with a commonactuating shaft 9E. A lever 91 connected with the shaft 96 at one endthereof can be swung for rocking the shaft to cause opening and closingmovements of the Stoppers. A spiral spring 98 disposed around the shaft96 and acting on the lever 91 urges the latter in a direction to holdthe Stoppers 94 in their closed position.

The containers |2 may be supported beneath the dispensingchamber 82 byany suitable means such as by a conveyor or by a wheeled truck similarto that shown in Fig. 1. A drip pan 99 may also be provided beneath thedispensing chamber 82. The tank or housing 80 is preferably of adouble-walled construction providing a space or jacket |88 whichsurrounds the reservoir, dispensing chamber and measuring cups and towhich suitable heating or cooling medium can be applied for maintainingthe liquid being dispensed at any desired temperature or degree offluidity. The liquid in the reservoir 8| can be maintained at thedesired level by supplying additional amounts to the reservoir throughthe pipe In Fig. 9, I show a liner or sleeve |03 being used in adispensing cup |04 of the kind embodied in the dispensing apparatusabove described. The sleeve or liner |03 is used in the cup when Cil theapparatus is to be used for filling containers of a smaller size orvolume than those for which the cup |04 is intended. The sleeve |03reduces the initial volume of the cup |04 to a predetermined lesservolume.

In this modified construction of Fig. 9, the cups |03 are extended abovethe bottom |05 of the dispensing chamber a greater distance than the'cups shown in Figs. 3 and 5. An advantage resulting from this is thatthere will be a greater volinne of excess liquid to be returned to thereservoir after each lling of the cups which will cause an effectivecleaning of the screen covering the inlet passage to the dispensingchamber and will also cause a desired agitation of the liquid in thereservoir.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings it will nowbe readily understood that I have provided novel dispensing apparatuswhich can be used for measuring or dispensing various kinds of liquidsand with which shells, cans or other containers can be lled or chargedwith predetermined volumes of the desired liquid in a rapid andsatisfactory manner. It will be seen also that when the apparatus is tobe used in dispensing paints or certain other liquids, it is susceptibleof an embodiment in which an inert gas is used and protects the liquidfrom contact with the atmosphere. It will likewise be seen that bycreating a reduced pressure condition or partial vacuum in thedispensing chamber, the liquid is effectively freed of bubblescontaining entrapped air or gas.

While I have illustrated and described my novel dispensing apparatus inconsiderable detail, it will be understood, of course, that I do notwish to be correspondingly limited but regard my invention as includingall changes and modification coming Within the spirit of the inventionand the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A dispensing apparatus comprising, a tank having therein a reservoiradapted to contain a supply of liquid, a dispensing chamber in said tanklaterally of the reservoir and in immediately contiguous relationthereto, said chamber being closed to atmosphere and having an inletconnected directly with said reservoir at a point below the normal levelof liquid in the latter, said inlet having a lateral dimensionapproximately equal to the width of said chamber, a measuring cupconnected with said chamber to receive liquid therefrom and havingdelivery means at its lower end, and means for creating a partial vacuumin said chamber for causing liquid to surge thereinto from saidreservoir for filling said cup.

2. A dispensing apparatus comprising, a tank having therein a dispensingchamber and a reservoir in laterally contiguous relation to said chamberand adapted to contain a supply of liquid, said chamber being closed toatmosphere and having an inlet connecting the same directly with saidreservoir at a point below the normal level of liquid in the latter,said inlet having a lateral dimension approximately equal to the widthof said chamber, a measuring cup connected with said chamber to receiveliquid therefrom and having delivery means at its lower end, eductionmeans connected with said chamber and operable to create a partialvacuum therein for causing liquid to surge into said chamber in excessof that required for lling said cup, and means for restoring the normallpressure in said chambertorpermitkthe@returnoffemessiliquiditosaldiresL ervoir.

3. A dispensing apparatuscompris'ing," a-f tank having thereineadispensingchamber anda reser- Voir adaptedtoecontain'-asupplyv ofliquid, said chamber 4being;closed't'o atmosphere fandfhaving an inletconnected iwfith saidireservoir ataupoint below the .normallevel ioffliquid in :the latter and vhaving: its` bottom located :adjacent tof,ibut above, said normal level,l ameasuiing. cup'l .havir'ig` its upperend. in, open communication; with 'said chamber at 1a, pointirabove,`ibut :adjacentfto, Vsaid bottom, means iforvcreatinga .partial vacuum:in said Vchamber siorcausing liquid :to ii'ow'in'to' said chamber from:said 'reservoir inexcessfof'thatree quired :for lling saidfeup;meansforf'd'elivering the liquid from isaidzcupg; .and .meansrforireta'rd ingr' the. restoration: of: normal pressures inzsaidchamber: for con-trollingatherreturnzof fex'cess liq; uid tovsaidpreseri/oir;4

ein.V dispensing apparatus afi tankf; having therein :apairzofchambersclosed to: atmosphere one being a reservoir chamber adapted tocorr-Htaina supply of liquidzandtlieitother 'being a dispensingchamber-.hating an: inlet 1 connected with thef,reservoirfchamberata:point rbel'owthe normal level ofliquid 'in;;the-latter;:a measuringcup-having its upper .end inopen .communication with said dispensingchamber-:and having means at its. lOWBI`e11d for dischargingmeasuredliquid; a .substantially f inert'gas.: aconned: in'` said :chambers, and'means orf Areducing-'the ipressure :of `the gas in said` dispensingchamberfrelativefvtoa the pressure of, the gas/:in saidreservoir-fchamberzito cause liquid to=ioW 1 frcmfthelatter. into said.dis-' pensing chamber for llingsaidmeasuringecup 5.y In dispensing;apparatus,.. a.; tank.-V having therein a pair of chambersfclosed'tcatmosphere one being a reservoirvchamberiadapted to con-` taina supply-.ofiliquidandf the othernbeingca dispensing chamberV havinggan..- inlet connectedwi-th the reserVoin-.chamberat a pointbelowtheYnormal levelof lienidiirthelatter; a measuring cup having itsupperlendinfopen communication. withA saiddispensing chamber.-`andhaving meansV at its lower end for discharging-imeasured-liquid,..asubstantally inert gas vconi-'med ini-said cham; bers, means forYreducing. fthe; pressure A`of -thegasin said dispensingchamhenrelativeto thepressure of the gasiinsaidreservo-ir chamber izo-cause. liduid tonew from the lattenintofsaid dispensing', chamber forllingsaid,measuring-cupaand an-v ile chamber .deviceconnected withy saidchamberv for. keeping the-latterv suppliedA With said inert gas vunderpressure.A

6. In, dispensing-.r apparatus, at taulehating.y therein areservoiradapted to.. contain a supplyfof.r liquid and a laterallyelongated dispensing ,chameber closed to atmosphere, saidireseriloirVandchamber ,being in laterally-contiguousrelatinn vtoeacri. 6

other and saidchamber hating..an..inletatirmeV end` thereof,conneating.,,the.chamberl-drectlytwthg said reservoiryat. apointmbelowithe. normaleleveL oi, the liquid link .the latten. said.inletv having. Va. lateral. dimension.. approximatelyequalwto.:..rtlie..D width ciA said. chamber., .a plurality .ofmeasuringd cui; disposed in, a row. extending longitudinally ofi. saiddispensing chamber and.havingitheiriuppein endsin onen.4communicationtherewith, meanson re einemrr thepressuze ,in-saidgdispensing chamberf so :as to cause 4liquidato if surgeg-irom saidreservoir into said-chamber andsoVeI'-, thertops-ef.Y said cups for:iilling the; sameesandi4 means: fforfdischarg-ingv 1 measured 4liquid,from-saidzcupa '7. in; .dispensingirsapparatusg-- .a tankzfhavingzzrsaidscups; arid-discharge'mans'atitlfreflowerfende fthe'reint Y'areservoir'aidatitled4k to 'coritalii ai' supplir of liquid and adispensing chamberfclos'ed t'o atmosphere 'and :having-'one 'side''thereof adjacent tain 'a supply "of duid :and a dispensingcha'mbeinenot'h'er portion thereof; said dispensing chain-jber being disposed'laterallyI oi said 'reservoir 'and in imme'diatelyponti'guou" "'elationthereto,l means chamber and' reservoir and which mu'nicates With the'r'sei" at 'af-point below the normal liquid' level ther of, saidpassagehav ing"a`late'r'al` dimension' appi'o'iiinately equal 4t theWidth'of saidsijslgchamber and a' CIOsS sectional 'area topermitarapid"sdrgiigfw of Hq; uidfrom the 'rese'i/olintosaid'dl'spen'sing chamber and a rapid retrnliirof'eiicess'liquid fromthe dispensing "Chabe' '110 `th'lrsir`,`a plllralityoi measuringcups'in'said'disp rising cham"- ber. 'and having their'uppends' 'inppen'coni-J muni'cati'on with the dispensing Vvchamber' and disposed atanelevatioi'i adjacent tbut above' said normal li'qi'iid'level oftheresVoir, means for causing sucha 'surging flow oilidiiid through saidpassage from^the reservoirinto "said dis-J pensing chamber'in'ezice'ss'ofthe'voliiine required toll the cups"`and"forrapidly'lling the 'said'cups andr discharge 'means rat `the `lower ends of saidcup's'ior'discharging measured liquid there;l from.

9. In dispensing apparatus,VV ahousinghavingv in' one portion thereof areservoir ada-pted'to conLA tain a supply of liq'r'iidand` a dispensingchamber in anotherportiori' thereof, said dispensing chamL berbeing'clo'sed toatmosphere and' disposed laterally of saidv reservoirand in inmediately contiguous relation theretdrneansdefining 'a div rectand relatively short-'connecting passagelin said-housing betweensaiddispensing' chamber and reservoir' and which" nassagdo'mmun'cats:

permit a Vrapid Asurging :flowK ofv-the liquidfrom the.L reservoirr`into--said ldispensing --chameerJ and a .rapid-.return ,-.owI ci excessliquid YfromM theYV dispensing chamber to the reservoi1-,' a'pluralityof 'measuring :cups 'finlsaid` dispensingl chamber and :havingtheir-uppe-endsin openA communicatienr with` the dispensing 'chamberandl disps'edattan elevation adjacent" to but abovel said normal liquidlevel of the reservoir, -meansfor creating4 a 'partial' vacuum n"saiddisper'isingg'l chamber Tfoi causing' such'a Surg' v'loiif o'ir'said liquid through ll of said cups for discharging measured liquidtherefrom.

10. In dispensing apparatus, a housing having in one portion thereof areservoir adapted to contain a supply of liquid and a dispensing chamberin another portion thereof, said dispensing chamber being disposedlaterally of said reservoir and in immediately continguous relationthereto, means dening a, direct and relatively short connecting passagein said housing between said dispensing chamber and reservoir and whichpassage communicates with the reservoir at a point below the normalliquid level thereof, said passage having a lateral dimensionapproximately equal to the width of said dispensing chamber and across-sectional area to permit a rapid surging flow of liquid from thereservoir into said dispensing chamber and a rapid return ow of excessliquid from the dispensing chamber to the reservoir, said dispensingchamber having a bottom located adjacent to but above said normal liquidlevel of the reservoir, a plurality of measuring cups in said dispensingchamber and having their upper ends in open communication with thedispensing chamber at Ia point adjacent to but above said bottom, meansfor causing such a surging flow of liquid through said passage from thereservoir into said dispensing chamber in excess of the volume requiredto ll the cups and for rapidly lling the said cups, and discharge meansat the lower ends of said cups for discharging the liquid therefrom.

l1. In dispensing apparatus, a housing having in one portion thereof areservoir adapted to contain a supply of liquid and a dispensing chamberin another portion thereof, said dispensing chamber being closed toatmosphere and disposed laterally of said reservoir and in immediatelycontiguous relation thereto, means defining a direct and relativelyshort connecting passage in said housing between said dispensing chamberand reservoir and which passage communicates with the reservoir at apoint below the normal liquid level thereof, said passage having alateral dimension approximately equal to the width of said dispensingchamber and a cross-sectional area to permit a rapid surging iiow ofliquid from the reservoir into said dispensing chamber and a rapidreturn iiow of excess liquid from the dispensing chamber to thereservoir, said dispensing chamber having a bottom located adjacent tobut above said normal liquid level of the reservoir, a plurality ofmeasuring cups in said dispensing chamber and having their upper ends inopen communication with the dispensing chamber at a point adjacent tobut above said bottom, means for creating a partial vacuum in saiddispensing chamber for causing such a surging flow of liquid throughsaid passage from the reservoir into said dispensing chamber in excessof the volume required to fill the cups and for rapidly lling the saidcups, and discharge means at the lower ends of said cups for dischargingmeasured liquid therefrom.

l2. In dispensing apparatus, means dening a reservoir chamber adapted tocontain a supply of liquid, means defining a dispensing chamber, saiddispensing chamber being disposed laterally of said reservoir chamberand in closely adjacent relation thereto, means defining a ydirect andrelatively short connecting passage extending between and communicatingwith said reservoir and dispensing chambers adjacent the bottomsthereof, said passage having a cross-sectional area such as to permitarapid surging i'low of liquid from the reservoir chamber into thedispensing chamber and a rapid return ow of excess liquid from thedispensing chamber to the reservoir chamber, said reservoir chamberhaving a normal liquid level which is a substantial distance above theconnection of said passage therewith, a plurality of measuring cups insaid dispensing chamber and having their upper ends in opencommunication with the dispensing chamber and disposed at an elevationadjacent to but above said normal liquid level of the reservoir chamber,one of said chambers being closed to atmosphere and having gaseousmedium therein, means for varying the pressure of said gaseous medium insaid one chamber for causing said surging flow of liquid through saidpassage from the reservoir chamber in excess of the volume required toll the cups into the dispensing chamber and to permit said rapid returniiow of excess liquid to the reservoir chamber, and discharge means atthe lower ends of said cups for discharging measured liquid from all ofthe cups substantially simultaneously.

13. In dispensing apparatus, means defining a reservoir chamber adaptedto contain a supply of liquid, means dening a dispensing chamber, saiddispensing chamber being disposed laterally of said reservoir chamberand in closely adjacent relation thereto, means defining a direct andrelatively short connecting passage extending between and communicatingwith said reservoir and dispensing chambers adjacent the bottomsthereof, said passage having a cross-sectional area such as to permit arapid surging ow of liquid from the reservoir chamber into thedispensing chamber and a rapid return flow of excess liquid from thedispensing chamber to the reservoir chamber, said reservoir chamberhaving a normal liquid level which is a substantial distance above theconnection of said passage therewith, a plurality of measuring cups insaid dispensing chamber and having their upper ends in opencommunication with the dispensing chamber and disposed at an elevationadjacent to but above said normal liquid level of the reservoir chamber,said dispensing chamber being closed to atmosphere and said reservoirchamber being open to atmosphere, means for partially exhausting gaseousmedium from said dispensing chamber so as to decrease the pressuretherein relative to the atmospheric pressure in said reservoir chamberfor causing said surging flow of liquid through said passage from thereservoir chamber in excess of the volume required to fill the cups intothe dispensing chamber, and discharge means at the lower ends of saidcups for discharging measured liquid from all of the cups substantiallysimultaneously.

14. In dispensing apparatus, means defining a reservoir chamber adaptedto contain a supply of liquid, means defining a dispensing chamber, saiddispensing chamber being disposed laterally of said reservoir chamberand in closely adjacent relation thereto, means defining a direct andrelatively short connecting passage extending between and communicatingwith said reservoir and dispensing chambers adjacent the bottomsthereof, said passage having a cross-sectional area such as to permit arapid surging flow of liquid from the reservoir chamber into thedispensing chamber and a rapid return ow of excess liquid from thedispensing chamber to the reservoir chamber, said reservoir chamberhaving a normal liquid level which is a substantial distance above theconnection of said passageftherewith, a plurality of measuring cups insaid dispensing chamber and having thei1 upper ends in opencommunication with the dispensing chamber and disposed at an elevationadjacent to but above said normal liquid level of the reservoir chamber,said reservoir ehamber and dispensing chamber being both closed toatmosphere and having gaseous medium therein, and means for varying thepressure of the gaseous medium in one chamber relative to the pressurein the other chamber for causing said surging ow of liquid through saidpassage from the reservoir chamber into the dispensing chamber in excessof the volume required to fill the cups and to permit said rapid returnow of excess liquid to the reservoir chaml5 ber, and discharge means atthe lower ends of said cups for discharging the measured liquid from allof cups substantially simultaneously. LE ROY A. QUAYLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,333,299 Falkiner Mar. 9, 19201,404,418 WoodruiT Jan. 24, 1922 2,106,176 Huffman et al. Jan. 25, 19382,186,358 Bonlich Jan. 9, 1940

